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Petco Park is ringing in the 2015 season with a home opener on Thursday, April 9 and an exciting new lineup of food and drink from San Diego favorites and more.
Adding to the local craft beer contingent is the arrival of Pizza Port, which will have a significant presence in the park. The brewpub's five grub and grog locations (in sections 104, 121, 215, 311 and 320) will sell cheese, pepperoni and garlic artichoke pizza, plus their signature garlic beer buddies with ranch and marinara sauce and Pizza Port beer on draft and in cans. Featured beers are Swamis IPA, ChronicAle Amber, Ponto Session IPA, Pick Six Pilsner and an exclusive brew called Petco Park Pale Ale.
And Craft Beers of San Diego, located in sections 109, 213, and 301, now includes Hess Brewing among its all-local taps.
The Patio Restaurant Group scored two spaces in the park this year, behind sections 128 and 228. The Patio in Left Field will serve a menu that includes favorites from its restaurants in Pacific Beach and Mission Hills, from ahi poke tacos to fries topped with steak and gorgonzola and their cheddar-stuffed Juicy Lucy burger. The eatery offers beer, wine and coffee from the Swell Roasting Company; they also plan on serving Sunday brunch. The all-new left field area, which features the largest video board in the national league, also includes The Point, a new section of bar-rail seating with waiter service delivering food from The Patio and beer from Ballast Point.
Austin-based Deep Eddy Vodka is launching the Deep Eddy Vodka Hideaway, a new bar located on the Toyota Terrace level that will serve signature cocktails made with Deep Eddy Ruby Red and Deep Eddy Lemon; a three-year sponsorship agreement with the San Diego Padres means the drinks will also be available at all bars and suites across the stadium. Opening in May, the bar will also feature a menu from Cardiff's Zenbu Sushi.
Other new food and drink vendors include San Antonio Wines, Azunia Tequila, Firehouse Subs, Tarantino Hot Dogs, Popcornopolis, Shellback Rum and Maui Wowi Smoothies.
It's game time in America's Finest City. So in honor of the opening of the Padres' 2015 baseball season, here's a guide to what to eat at Petco Park and where to find it.
Some Game Day Eating Highlights:
Ballast Point is pouring beers at The Draft, while other booze stops include El Agave, Karl Strauss, and Green Flash.
Cardiff's Seaside Market has a new flag in the stadium. Go the healthy route with their kale quinoa salad or splurge at the hot bar with fried chicken.
Also check out the Taste of San Diego portable carts, with samplings from Hodad's, Bumblebee, Tower Bar, and Phil's BBQ along K Street at Park at the Park. Get a 7th inning stretch sugar rush at Pacific Beach's Baked Bear, crawling into the ballpark this year.
Seaside Market: This two-window store mimics the Cardiff counterpart, serving up their famous tri tip sandwiches, flatbreads, smoothies, and a variety of salads like kale quinoa, pasta primavera, and orzo pasta. Dig into a hot food bar with rotisserie and fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac 'n cheese, and meatballs. Grab a bottle and fill up on Vitamin C from an orange juice machine that slices and squeezes before your eyes. [Sect. 103/105]
Rimel's Rooftop Grill: Dine atop the Western Metal Supply Co. Building--a space formerly reserved for private groups—on the local resto's mahi mahi tacos and rotisserie chickens.
Stone Brewing Co. at Petco Park: The brewery shrunk down its Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens and planted it at the ballpark, located near Sect. 309/311 above Hodad's on the Upper Deck Terrace.
Ryan Brothers Coffee: Get a java jolt at one of three locales of this San Diego family-owned fixture, which also expanded big at the airport. [Mercado, Section 119 and 226]
Phil's BBQ: This meaty pit stop is next to the Showley Bros. Candy Factory building. They offer their Broham pulled pork sandwich, El Toro tri-tip sandwich, and Baby Back Ribs near Section 113 on the Main Concourse.
Ballast Point: The brewery's outpost, The Draft tap room, sits above Seaside Market on the Garden Level and pairs beer with burgers from Hodad's. It carries Ballast Point's full line of spirits.
Wines at the Park, Presented by Donovan's: Vino lovers can drown out the ballpark's beer buzz inside this closed-door wooden wine haven, featuring racks of bottles and specials scribbled on a chalkboard. Patrons can taste reds, whites or sparkling selections at the mini winery and buy by the bottle or glass before heading back to their seats. [Sect. 104]
Anthony's Fish Grotto: San Diego's iconic seafood restaurant is brings the ocean to the ballpark, with offerings such as shrimp avocado salad, a Cajun crispy fish sandwich or New England clam chowder. [Sect. 102, 206]
Hodad's: The Ocean Beach burger joint has a fervent local following for their bacon cheeseburgers and "frings", a basket of half onion rings and half French fries. [Sect. 203, PCL Club, Park at the Park]
Field Level
* indicates special Eater recommendations
Seaside Tri Tip: Seaside Market set up carts selling its famous home run: BBQ tri tip sandwiches and tri tip nachos. [Sect. 110, 125]
Diego Steak & Cheese [Sect. 101, 119]
The Taco Shop: Nibble on an assortment of street tacos at stands in Sect. 119, 120.
*El Agave Mission Tequila Bar: Get your Cinco de Mayo on early with margaritas from this Mission Hills hot spot. [Sect. 122, 119]
*Karl Strauss Trolley: San Diego's original microbrewery has trolley stations at the ballpark to replicate the feel of its nearby downtown restaurant. [Sect. 110, 125]
*Ballast Point Cart Sect. 101, Park at the Park]
*Craft Beers of San Diego: Local microbrews. [Sect. 109, 213, and 301]
Bayview Grill: Order meat and veggie burgers, garlic fries and boatloads of beer. [Sect. 107]
Filippi's Pizza: A longtime local staple for pizza lovers, the thick crust on the pepperoni and cheese slices should tie you over until the final inning. [Mercado in Sect. 102]
Kona Cove: Catch a wave, ball and buzz drinking Kona Brewing Co.'s lineup of island brews branded as "liquid aloha." Lined with long boards, the Hawaiian-inspired setup encourages craft beer drinkers to stay a while. [Sect. 124]
Kettle & Cone: Satisfy a game day sweet tooth craving by spooning soft serve ice cream out of a Padres souvenir helmet or opt for traditional baseball fare, like Cracker Jack and Red Vines. [Mercado in Sect. 102]
*Anthony's Fish Grotto: San Diego's iconic seafood restaurant brings the ocean to the ballpark, with offerings such as shrimp avocado salad or New England clam chowder. [Mercado in Sect. 102]
Leinie Lodge: Take a beer break from the game, and take in landscape views of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel and Coronado Bridge, with Leinenjugel's Summer Shandy, a Wisconsin-bred wheat beer brewed with lemonade flavors. Spiked frozen fruit yarders are also in season at this stop. [Mercado in Sect. 102]
Wings-N-Things: Get ready to batter up on napkins. Wings-N-Things, a New York import that cooks chicken three ways, made its first nest at Petco Park last year. The limited menu includes buffalo chicken tenderloin strips and buffalo chicken pizza sticks. Fun fact: Each year, they sell enough wings at their 14-plus San Diego locations to reach the L.A. Dodgers and back. [Sect. 107]
Omni Hotel Premier Club: This classy glass-enclosed lounge isn't just for those with prime field-level seats – fans can buy a buffet ticket a la carte. [Sect. 108]
*Randy Jones BBQ: The Padres pitching legend made a name for himself in the restaurant world by cashing in on his family's barbeque recipe. Jones tells us the half-pound, all-beef BBQ hot dog is his best seller on game day. Pulled pork and beef brisket are also fan favorites. Randy Jones Grill Carts will also dish out dogs this year. [Mercado in Sect. 104; carts in Sect. 124, 101, 119]
K Street Grill: Nachos, chicken sandwiches, burgers, fries and beer. [Sect. 130, 133]
*Wines at the Park: Patrons can taste reds, whites or sparkling selections and buy by the bottle or glass before heading back to their seats. [Mercado in Sect. 104]
Padres Mexican Café: This South of the Border spot sells chicken burritos with sautéed red and green peppers, Churros and fish or carne asada tacos. [Sect. 121]
Friar Franks: A "Batter Up Basket" for grown-ups comes with a Hebrew National or Wienerschnitzel hot dog and Miss Vickie's kettle chips, while the Happy Meal-type option for kids includes a small hot dog or turkey sandwich with apple sauce, carrots and a juice box. [Mercado in Sect. 104, 115, 137]
Friar Fit: Health nuts flock to this fit fridge, which contains fruit cups, salads, California rolls, V-8 fusion drinks and gluten-free options. [Sect. 101]
Kona Cove: Catch a wave – and a buzz – with Kona Brewing Co.'s lineup of island brews known as "liquid aloha." The Hawaiian-themed setup consists of long boards and casual seating. [Sect. 124]
Western Metal Supply Co. Building
Brickhouse Deli: Take a tour of beers from around the world on the field level, one level up from the Padres store.
Hall of Fame Bar & Grill: Expect sports bar fare and a full bar. Some attendees buy a nosebleed ticket and then put their name on the list for one of two seatings during the game.
Toyota Terrace
*Bub's in the Ballpark: The casual East Village eatery, popular among sports and tater tots fans, expands a few blocks away with beer and burger offerings. [Sect. 227]
Anthony's Fish Grotto: See above. [Sect. 206]
Budweiser Patio: A Bud lover's dream comes to life with this open air hot spot for boozing. Stand and sip a Budweiser, Bud Light Lime or Michelob Ultra along a long counter overlooking right field. [Sect. 227]
*Club 19: A Toyota Terrace-level ticket grants you access to high-end fare like flatbread pizzas, truffle popcorn and short ribs. [Sect. 217]
Coronado's: A full service bar with a straight shot of the island. [Sect. 202]
Filippi's Pizza: See above. [Sect. 215]
Friar Franks: See above. [Sect. 233]
Harbor Grill: Burgers, chipotle chicken sandwiches, fries and salads. [Sect. 202]
*Hodad's: The Ocean Beach burger joint, founded in 1969, embraces its San Diego roots with surfboards and an oversized vanity license plate reminding Padres fans to "Beat LA." [Sect. 203, PCL Club]
Randy Jones BBQ: See above.[Sect. 213]
Lucha Libre: Find Padres and Dodgers fans here between innings, uniting over shared SoCal cravings for California burritos stuffed with fries. [Sect. 215]
*Suh-Sweet!: This candy store is stocked with ice cream, baked goods and Chocolat gelato – and appropriately across from some of the ballpark's sugar daddy suite holders. [Sect. 208]
Trolley Station Grill: Burgers, chipotle chicken sandwiches, fries, and salads. [Sect. 213]
Upper Level
*Ballpark Brews: Local and imported microbrews. [Sect. 305]
Bayview Grill: Meat and veggie burgers, garlic fries, carne asada fries and boatloads of beers. [Sect. 316, 323]
La Cantina Bar: Say ole to slushies and liquor. [Sect. 328]
Filippi's Pizza: See above. [Sect. 311, 320]
Friar Franks: See above. [Sect. 305, 326]
Kettle & Cone: See above. [Sect. 310]
Padres Mexican Café: This South of the Border spot sells chicken burritos with sautéed red and green peppers, Churros and fish or carne asada tacos. [Sect. 319]
-Tierney Plumb